74 DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES 



last few years the Corcoran Irrigation District has purchased and 

 rented a number of shares in both the Peoples and Settlers ditch com- 

 panies. Til is has resulted in a considerable increase in the value of 

 stock in these companies and has had a marked influence upon the 

 value of stock in the Last Chance and Lemoore ditch companies. 



In 1916 the area served by the Empire Water Company on the east 

 side of Kin«rs River was organized as the Stratford Irrigation District 

 for the ])urpose of taking over the distribution sys-tems, but an agree- 

 ment was never reached. The district has not been active. In 1920 

 the area served by the Lemoore Canal was organized as the Lemoore 

 Irrigation District and the Stratford Irrigation District was included 

 within this district, although it did not disorganize. The primary pur- 

 pose of the organization of the Lemoore Irrigation District was for 

 participation in the proposed Pine Flat project. The gross area of the 

 district is 52,300 acres. The district has never taken over the irrigation 

 system of the canal company. 



The area served by the Last Chance Ditch was organized as the 

 Lucerne Irrigation District in 1925 for the purpose of participation in 

 the proposed Pine Plat project. The gross area in the district is 

 83,407 acres. The district has not taken over I^ast Chance Ditch. 



A summary of data relating to organization, value of stock, annual 

 assessments, and costs of water is given in Tables 47, 48, and 49. 



Cost of Water to Irrigators Using Farm Pumping Plants in Tulare Lake Basin. 



The principal supply of irrigation water in Tulare Lake Basin is 

 obtained from deep wells, which in this area usually penetrate to dejiths 

 of 1800 to 2200 feet. Formerly, artesian flow occurred from some of 

 these wells, but continued pumping has caused the water table to recede 

 until pumping lifts range from about 120 to 200 feet. 



Deep M'ell turbines are used exclusively for pum]iiiig. Thirty to 

 50-horsepower units usually have ca])acities of from 500 to 900 gallons 

 per minute, while some larger turbines driven with lOO-horsejiower 

 motors pump as much as 2000 gallons per minute. AYater from the 

 deep wells contains gas and sulphur compounds which corrode both 

 pumps and well casing to such an extent that the usual life is considered 

 to be from eight to ten years. Repair eharges are corresjxmdingly high. 

 !<?1,000 per annum being considered a reasonable amount to cover repairs 

 to a dee]) well and ])umping ]dant in the lake bottom. 



Within recent years water from shallow wells, usually ranging from 

 50 to 100 foct in dei)th, has been used to snipjilemeiit tlie sujijily from 

 deep wells in the eastern portion of the basin south of Corcoran. The 

 water from these wells is alkaline and is mixed before being used for 

 irrigation with water from the deep wells. North and east of Corcoran, 

 water from the shallow wells is of Ix^tt'^r (piality. The cost of the 

 shallow wells is usually less than $300. and most of those located south 

 of Corooran corrode and eolla]ise within five years. Yields of from 

 150 to 300 gallons ])er minute are obtained with small deeji well tur- 

 bines driven by 5 ;ind 7.5-horse]iower motors. 



The high cost of repairs ajul short life of the wells and ^nimps is 

 offset to a great extent by the fact that the |uim]is are operated through- 

 out the year, which reduces the cos1 of water materially. For instance, 

 the cost of power for irrigating 3353 acres of wheat and barley in the 



